Alvin Ailey quotes

Alvin Ailey was an influential American dancer and choreographer, celebrated for founding the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. His innovative works brought African-American cultural expression and modern dance to international acclaim. He inspired generations of artists and helped reshape the landscape of American dance. Here are 23 of his quotes:

One of the processes of your life is to constantly break down that inferiority, to constantly reaffirm that I Am Somebody. (Alvin Ailey)
I am trying to show the world that we are all human beings and that color is not important. What is important is the quality of our work. View quote
Alvin Ailey
One of the worst things about racism is what it does to young people. View quote
Alvin Ailey
Racism tears down your insides so that no matter what you achieve, you're not quite up to snuff. View quote
Alvin Ailey
Sometimes you feel bad about yourself when there's no reason to. View quote
Alvin Ailey
Dance is for everybody. I believe that the dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people. View quote
Alvin Ailey
If you live in the elite world of dance, you find yourself in a world rife with racism. Let's face it. View quote
Alvin Ailey
We still spend more time chasing funds than we do in the studio in creative work. View quote
Alvin Ailey
Money is a never-ending problem. View quote
Alvin Ailey
Lena Horne is the sweetest and most adorable woman in the world. View quote
Alvin Ailey
It will take very sophisticated marketing to achieve our aim of bringing more black people into the theater. (Alvin Ailey)
My lasting impression of Truman Capote is that he was a terribly gentle, terribly sensitive, and terribly sad man. View quote
Alvin Ailey
My feelings about myself have been terrible. View quote
Alvin Ailey
I always want to have more dancers in my company. View quote
Alvin Ailey
The creative process is not controlled by a switch you can simply turn on or off; it's with you all the time. View quote
Alvin Ailey
Choreography is mentally draining, but there's a pleasure in getting into the studio with the dancers and the music. View quote
Alvin Ailey
I'm attracted to long-legged girls with long arms and a little head. View quote
Alvin Ailey
No matter what you write or choreograph, you feel it's not enough. View quote
Alvin Ailey
I wanted to explore black culture, and I wanted that culture to be a revelation. View quote
Alvin Ailey
I always want more. View quote
Alvin Ailey
In this business, life is one long fund-raising effort. (Alvin Ailey)
Nothing personal; I just don't have people over. View quote
Alvin Ailey
Its roots are in American Negro culture, which is part of the whole country's heritage, ... But the dance speaks to everyone. ... Otherwise it wouldn't work. View quote
Alvin Ailey

Alvin Ailey

Alvin Ailey - Image
Occupation: American Dancer
Born: January 5, 1931
Died: December 1, 1989
Quotes count: 23

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